# memono Journal vs Notepad Notes and Notes Widget

The clearest difference is ads: memono Journal at none against Notepad Notes and Notes Widget's shown. memono Journal also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (301 vs 21). Notepad Notes and Notes Widget's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. memono Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months and Notepad Notes and Notes Widget sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notepad Notes and Notes Widget holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: memono Journal has 301 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of memono Journal's written reviews are positive against 81% of Notepad Notes and Notes Widget's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

memono Journal ships an update monthly, Notepad Notes and Notes Widget every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | memono Journal | Notepad Notes and Notes Widget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (301 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memono-journal/id906470619/reviews) | **[4.7 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-notes-and-notes-widget/id1493910929/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **301** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | **85.2% of reviews** | 81.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 157 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dennis Ebbinghaus](https://appshunter.io/developer/858934149) | [LAN CHEN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454519178) |

## What reviewers say

### memono Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memono-journal/id906470619)

Create rich multimedia journal entries with text, photos, audio, and location data. Organize notes with color categories, set reminders, and share them easily. Secure your entries with a lock and fingerprint access.

**Highlights:** Multimedia notes (text, photos, audio), Location tagging, Color-coded organization, Reminders and notifications, Secure lock with Touch ID, iCloud synchronization, Note sharing

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 months | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year | $4.99 | per year |
| One-time purchase | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📷 Ability to add photos
- 🎵 Voice recording support
- 📍 Location tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Ads are too frequent
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/searching notes
- 🔤 Small font size
- 📁 Limited organization options

**Reported bugs**

- Photos disappearing after saving
- Syncing issues between devices
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to change font size and style
- Option to add multiple photos per note
- Folder/category organization
- Improved search and sorting functionality


### Notepad Notes and Notes Widget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-notes-and-notes-widget/id1493910929)

A simple and easy-to-use notepad app for jotting down thoughts, memos, and diary entries. Organize your notes with folders, customize fonts and colors, and secure your entries with a passcode lock. Offers a premium plan for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Memo search, Folder organization, Font customization, Font size adjustment, Main color change, Passcode lock

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium plan | $2.49 | per month |
| Hide ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is memono Journal free?

memono Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Notepad Notes and Notes Widget free?

Notepad Notes and Notes Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, memono Journal or Notepad Notes and Notes Widget?

Notepad Notes and Notes Widget is rated higher. memono Journal averages 4.6 out of 5 from 301 ratings, while Notepad Notes and Notes Widget averages 4.7 from 21 ratings.

### Do memono Journal or Notepad Notes and Notes Widget have ads?

Notepad Notes and Notes Widget shows ads; memono Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, memono Journal or Notepad Notes and Notes Widget?

memono Journal ships an update monthly, and Notepad Notes and Notes Widget every 3 months. Most recently, memono Journal was updated on October 23, 2026 and Notepad Notes and Notes Widget on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*